Planoqraph co



A. M. NICHOLAS.

ALlNG TANK 0R BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.I

Patented July 15, 1919.

Svwawto/o A M. N lcholas,

m n s A .Sg

TMB CULUMUIA PLANOURAPM co.. WASHINGTON. D. L.

TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASKIN MORRISON NICHOLAS, OF BISMUTH, VIA DEEPWATER, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

BALINGr TANK OR BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, AsKIN MonmsoN NICHOLAS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Block 111, Torrington, Bismuth, via Deepwater, in the State of New South l/Vales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Baling Tanks or Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to baling tanks or buckets, such as are used in excavating work to remove water which collects at the bottom of a shaft or other excavation, more particularly to tanks which are lowered into the shaft, filled there by suction exerted through Ia suction or vacuum pipe, and then raised to the surface to be emptied.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a tank of this character which will be simple in construction and operation, avoiding the use of inlet valves, and therefore practically foolproof, and which will eluninate the danger to the life of the men working in the shaft, resulting from the breaking away of the pipes due to the premature hauling up of the tank through error on the part of the engineer operating the winding engine. This result is obtained by providing means whereby the suction pipe is held in voperative position on the tank through the medium of the suction exerted in the tank through said pipe. By the use of this same meansnot only will the suction be cut oil' automatically from the tank, but the actual connection between the suction pipe and the tank is broken, when the tank has been filled. A special advantage of this feature of my invention `is the fact that an ordinary ejector, such as a Penberthy, can be used in connection with my improved tank, thus avoiding the use of expensive pumps. Another feature of the invention is the provision of simple means for emptying the tank. All the advantages of my invention will be made clear in the description following hereinafter, and the novel features will be pointed out in'the appended claims.

Two embodiments of my invention have been shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved tank, with parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, with parts in sectionv `on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.` 3 isa top view;

Fig. l is a detail section through the suetion pad and suction pipe used in connection with my invention; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a modified form of my invention, some parts having been omitted from this View.

As an example, I have shown in the drawings a tank or casing of rectangular cross section having side walls 10 and a bottom 11 rigidly connected as by riveting or otherwise, while the cover or lid 12 is preferably connected with the sides removably, to facilitate inspection and repairs, by means of screws 12 screwing into a preferably wooden frame 12 secured to the inside of the tank, adjacent its top, by means of screws 19.*. This frame forms a bearing surface for the lid or cover, and a gasket 12 of rubber or other suitable material is preferably interposed between the covervplate and the bearing frame, in order to insure an airtight joint.

For thc purpose of conveniently lowering and elevating the tank, an iron strap or band 13 is secured to two opposed side walls, this band passing under the bottom from one side wiall to the other, and its two ends being held together above the tank and at a` distance therefrom by means of a screw bolt 14: which also passes through a link 15 to which will be attached the customary hook of the crane or derrick cable or other hoisting device (not shown). The two strap or band portions are held apart irmnediaitely above the tank by a spacing bar 13', in order to prevent undue strain on the sides of. the tank when the latter is beingv lifted. To each of ltwo opposed side walls 11 (preferably those which carry the band 13) is secured a pair of L-shaped guiding bnackets 16, by means of which the tank is guided in its upward or downward t-avel along the customary guides or skids 17 supported on the sides of the shaft.

Through the bottom 11 extends an intake pipe 18 whose upper end flares slightly and terminates preferably near the top of the tank, a bracket 1S secured to the inside of the tank holding this pipe in proper position. To the lower end of the pipe 18 is connected a rubber hose 18" the other end of which is adapted to be immersed into the water or other liquid or material which is to be drawn into the tank.

At a point located preferably near the top of the tank, one of then-side walls has a suction opening 19 with which registers normally (that i's', during the sucking or pumping operation) a suction pipe consist mg preferably of aV short piece of iron pipe 20 to which is attached a flexible hose 20 (say, of rubber), which in Aturn connects with a pipe 20 leading to the engine room.

To the free end of the pipe portion 2O is secured a suction pad consisting preferably of a Wooden disk 21 to which is attached on the side toward the inlet end of the suction pipe, a disk 21 of flexible material, for instancerubber or leather. The flat surface of this disk is of considerably larger area than the cross section of the pipe passage.

" The pipe 20, 20, 20 may be connected in pad and the adjacent portion of the tank and will thus hold the pad firmly against the tank wall and establish an air-tight connection between the suction pipe and the tank. The dierence of pressure between the atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of the suction pad and the vacuum inside is suliicient to overcome the weight of the pad andthe pipe connected with it, and will hold the pad firmly against the tank wall.` i v As soon las the water level in the tank reaches the suction opening 19, water will be suckedA into the suction pipe 20, 20. The impact of the inrushing water against the curved portion of the pipe will tend to pull the suction pad away from the tank; if this impact, however, should not be sufiicient'to accomplish this, the weight of the filled suction pipe will pull the pad away. The suction will thus be cut 0H from the tank automatically. The changed conditions will be noticed immediately in the engine room, and the dropping oil' of the suction pad will therefore at the same time give a signal to the engineer to stop the ejector or pumping action and to hoist the tank for the purpose of emptying` it. Y

Y -Thisemptying is done in the following manner: As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the tank is provided at its lower portion with an opening 10 normally closed by a door 22 secured to the outside wall 10 by means of hinges 10. On its inner face, this door has a lug 22. to Ywhich is pivotally connected one end 'of a Zyl-shaped lever 23 fulcruined at 24 on the inside of the tank, the other end of this lever being connected pivotally with a rod 25. This rod 25 is connected pivotally lwith one end of a short lever 26 secured rigidly to a shaft 27 extending through the tank, from one side wall to the other and supported in bearings 28 attached to the outer faces of the respective side walls. On its outer portions, the shaft 27 carries,

.rigidly connected therewith, handles 29 by means of which a turning movement can be given to the shaft 27. To the shaft 27 are also secured rigidly, two L-shaped levers 26', the free ends of these levers being connected with C-shaped springs 30 secured to the Sides of the tank and properly spaced therefrom by short collars 31. It will be seen that the springs 30 tend to press the levers V26 downward (Fig. 1)V and consequently the rod 25 and swing the dooropen, as indi` cated in Vdotted lines in' Fig. 1. After the tank has been emptied, the lsprings 30 will again close the door 22. .It will be seen that the connection between the lever 23 and the door 22 is a somewhat looseV one, so as to prevent binding of the-parts.

`A modified form of door and its mechas nism is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this` construction( thedoor 22, which opens "inwardly, is connected with a rod 25 which in turn connects with a lever 26 rigidly secured to the shaft 27. To hold the door tightly on its seat, the former is provided with an outwardly-projecting lug 32 hav ing an opening through which a latch or bolt 33 can be passed; this boltis of suficient length to `project beyond the two side edges of the opening 10, so as to lock the door securely against accidental opening. In orderV to discharge the contents ofthe tank, the bolt 33 is first withdrawn, whereupon the door will be opened automatically, as described above in connection with the form of my vinvention shown inV Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.'

To remove sand or other sediments which may have collectedY in the bottom of the tank, the door 22 or 22" is opened and a blast of compressed air or steam admitted through the suction opening 19, thus blowing such sediments out' through the opening 10.

`As pointed out above, there is a great advantage in the use of a baling tank in combination with a suction pad for establishing communication between the suction pipe and the tank, in view of the fact that this communication will be interrupted instantly and automatically, immediately after the water has reached the suction opening. The danger t0 the life of the men working in the shaft, due to the possibility of the iengineers pulling away before the tank is full, is entirely eliminated, as such action would simply disconnect the tank from the vacuum, and no harm would result. Furthermore, all that the workmen in the shaft have to do with the tank is to apply the suction pad, after the tank has been lowered into the shaft. The cutting ofi' of the suction from the tank, when the latter is full, the hoisting of the filled tank, and the lowering of the emptied tank, will be attended to from the engine room without requiring any further attention on the part of the men working in the shaft.

While I have described my invention in connection with a baling tank or waterhoisting device, it is evident that it is capable of other uses. Various changes and modiications may also be made without departing from the nature of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A suction tank provided with an outlet communicating with the upper portion of the tank, and having a flat external seating surface, a suction pipe, and a pad secured to the inlet end of said pipe and having a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of said inlet end and adapted for an airtight engagement with said seating surface.

2. A suction tank provided with an outlet communicating with the upper portion of the tank, and having a fiat external seating surface, a suction pipe, and a pad secured to the inlet end of said pipe and having a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of said inlet end and adapted for an airtight engagement with said seating surface, the flat surface of the pad being of considerably larger area than the cross section of the pipe passage at the inlet.

3. A suction tank provided with an outlet communicating with the upper portion of the tank, and having an external seating surface, a suction pipe, and a pad having a joint-forming surface adapted to engage said seating surface and also having a surface opposite to said j'oint-forming surface and exposed to the surrounding air when the pad is in position, to cause the pressure of such surrounding air on said exposed surface to hold the joint-forming surface of the pad against said seating surface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ASKIN MORRISON NICHOLAS.

Witnesses:

Crus. B. CnoMr'roN, MAY G. LU'rRELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Iche Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." L', 

